CAPCOE Rejects Claims of Unfair Marking Against Private School Candidates in 2026 BECE

The Campaign Against Privatisation and Commercialisation of Education (CAPCOE) has strongly dismissed allegations suggesting that candidates from private schools were deliberately marked down or biased against in the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE). In a statement released on August 13, 2026, the advocacy group characterized these claims as misleading, noting that such rhetoric risks undermining public confidence in Ghana's national examination framework and the integrity of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC). According to CAPCOE Convener, Mr. Richard Kwashie Kovey, the BECE marking process is designed with multiple layers of quality assurance specifically intended to identify and prevent human error or systemic bias. The organization clarified that all candidates, regardless of whether they attend public or private institutions, are assessed under a uniform national grading system. This standardized approach ensures that every student’s performance is measured against the same criteria, maintaining a level playing field for all basic education graduates across the country. CAPCOE also cautioned parents and school administrators against using internal mock examination results as a definitive benchmark for BECE performance. The group noted that discrepancies between school-based assessments and national exam results do not necessarily indicate foul play, but rather reflect the rigorous standards of the national examination body. To maintain the integrity of the educational sector, CAPCOE urged private school associations and aggrieved stakeholders to eschew public hearsay and instead follow established official channels to address any legitimate concerns regarding examination outcomes. Moving forward, the organization called for more constructive dialogue between educational stakeholders rather than fostering a divisive atmosphere between the public and private sectors. By focusing on evidence-based feedback and utilizing formal grievance procedures, CAPCOE believes the examination system can continue to evolve while preserving its reputation for fairness and academic rigor. The group remains committed to ensuring that the commercialization of education does not compromise the standards of national certification.